Link-motion valve-gear.



N. K. RENSLAND. LINK MOTION VALVE GEAR.

APPLICATION FILEDYMAY 6,1911.

.lwagm Patented Oct. 17, 1911.

wi/lmmo l I I ceiving the wrist NELS K. RENSLANDQOF UPI-1AM, NORTH DAKOTA.

LINK-MOTION VALVE-GEAR.

Specification of Letters latent.

Patented Oct. 17, 1911.

Application filed May 6, 1911. Serial No. 625,627.

1' b u/t' whom it may concern: I

lie it known that I, Nuns K. Rnnsininn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Uphaui, Mcl-lenry county, North Dakota. have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Link-Motion Valve-Gear; and-l do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it. appertaius to make and use the same.

This invention relates to certain improvements in valve gear for steam engines, and the objects and nature of the invention will be readily understood by those skilled in the art in the light: of the following explanation of the accon'ipanying drawings illustrating what I consider to be my preferred embodiment from among other formations and ar rangeinents' within the spirit and scope of my invention.

The invention consists in certain novel features in COIISlIIllUt'lOIl and in combina tions and arrangements as more fully and particularly set forth hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings;l igure 1, is a side elevation of the link motion valve gear. Fig. 2, is an eleva tion from the opposite side thereof. Fig. 3 is a top plan view, parts being broken away.

In the drawings, I show a. portion. of the engine crank shaft, ')rovided with the valve operating eccentric 10. The eccentric strap 11, is provided with the eccentric rod 12, at its outer end having a journal box 13, re-

pin 2, projectinglaterally from the rear or back side of the upper end of the oscillatory link 20. This link is vertically disposed to rock in a vertical. plane about a horizontal axis arranged about midway the length of the link. In the particular example illustrated, I show the link provided with a horizontal journal 91, fixed thereto about at the center thereof and projecting laterally from the rear or back side thereof, and mounted to rotate in a journal box carried by a fixed pillar or support 3 arranged a suitable distance from the engine crank shaft. .At its front side, the link is formed or provided with a longitudinal curved open-front slideway 23, and if so desired, this slideway can be undercut to retain the slide 4, therein, and permit adjustinent of the slide to any point within the length of the link or its slidcway. This slide is formed with a wrist pin 40, project ing laterally and forwardly therefrom, to receive the valve-stenrpropelling pitman 5. The pitinan at one end is formed. with a suitable journal box 50, receiving the pin 60, rigid with and extending laterally from a block (31., normally fixed on the reciprocating valve stem. 6. The valve stem 6, actuates and controls the steam engine slide va ve, not shown, and if so desired said stem can be mounted to rcciprocate in guides 7.

The block (31 is preferably adjustable longitudinally of the valve stem and is nor mally clamped rigidly thereto by set screw (32, or other suitable means. By this arrangenient the desired relative positions of the engine slide valve, link and eccentric can. be attained.

The pitman 5, extends transversely across the front faces of the oscillatory link 20, and the slide therein and is formed intermediate its length with a bearing box or opening receiving the pin 40, of said slide and by which said pitman is confined to the slide and is actuated to reciprocate the valve stem.

The pitman extends in a direction toward the engine crank shaft and beyond the slide and link and this extended or free end 51, of the pitman is straight and otherwise formed to reciprocate through the head or housing 8, in which said extended end of the pitman is confined and through which it transversely passes. This head 8, is mount ed to rotate or oscillate about a horizontal axis. For instance, I show said head carried by and rigid with a horizontal journal or pin 80, mounted in and carried by a journal box at the end of the laterally extending long arm 9, of a vertically rockable elbow or hell crank lever having the d epending arm 90. This elbow lever is fulerumed at 91, to and is-carried by a pillar 92, or other suitablesupport. The elbow leveris rocked and held in the desired adjustment by any suitable means. For instance, I show coni'lecting-rod or link 93, pivotally joined to the depending arm 90, of the elbow lever and from thence extending to upright hand lever Si l, provided. with any suitable means for locking the same in the desired adjustment. For instance I show the hand lever provided with a toothed sector, and a hand- Clip-OPQl'tllltd dog for locking the lever in the position desired to hold the slide in the desired adjustment.

Those skilled in the art will understand that the eccentric rocks the link on its fixed central axis, and tha the valve stem is thereby reciproca-ted thro 'gh the medium of the slide, and pitman, W \en the slide is either above or below the Ct \ter or axis on which the link rocks. ll ht the slide is at the dead center, that is, at the center of the link, the oscillation of the link will not impart motion to the valve stem. The slide is adjusted in the link, and is held at the desired adjustment by the elbow lever, connecting rod and hand lever, through the medium of the extended end of the pitman and the rockable head or housing thereon and carried and raised and lowered by the elbow lever. To reverse the engine, the hand lever is manipulated to throw the slide through the medium of the pitman, to the opposite side of the center on which the link rocks,

and the throw or stroke of the engine valve is determined by the distance of the slide from the center on which the link rocks, as will be well understood by those skilled in the art. The arrangement of the slide adjusting elbow lever is such that the connecting rod thereto can extend in either direction so that the hand lever can'be located at the most convenient point according to the ,particular type of engine or boiler.

The connecting rod can extendfrom the elbow lever toward the valve chest and cylinder or can extend in the opposite direction toward and past the crank shaft so that the hand lever will be on one side ofthe crank shaft and the link on the other side thereof.-

The pitman is steadied and guided by the rockable housingand extended pitman end and the slide is thereby most easily and readily adjusted through the medium of the elbow lever.

The construction disclosed is simple, durable and effective and employs a minimum number of parts in view of the results attained, and can be readily attached to and emph 'oyed on various constructions of road or traction engines.

It gis evident that various changes and;

be resorted to in the modifications might forms, constructions and arrangements deand hence I do extended end Ior swinging said pitman vertically to adjust said slide longitudinally of said link and having a depending arm,,a manually controlled lever having locking means, and aconnecting rod from said last mentioned lever to said depending arm.

2. In combination, a rocking link, actuatingmeans therefor shaft, aslide adjustable longitudinallyof said link. a valve-stem-reciprocating pitman pivotally joined to and actuated by said slide, a. rockable head on and in which said pitman reciprocates, an elbow lever carrying said head and in which the same is mounted ated means whereby the lever can be rocked to swing said .pit-man through the medium of said head to adjust said slidelongitudinally of said link.

3. In combination, ating means therefor,- a slide adjustable longitudinally of said link, avalve-stem-reciprocating'pitman pivotally joined to and acmated by said slide and having a extendedbeyon'd said slide, a rockable-head loosely receiving said end, controlled means for raising and lowering said head and for holding the'sa'me at the desired elevation. 4

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

- Witnesses:

H. M. ERICKSON, CARL BALTZER.

from the spirit a vertically rock.-

arm operatively and pivot-ally coupled to said a rocking link, actu-.

free end disv from the engine crank to rock and provided with manually actuand manually 

